Muriel Smith's career began when she created the role of Carmen Jones on Broadway. She famously turned down an offer from Samuel Goldwyn to star in the film adaptation of "Porgy and Bess" because she felt that it did not enhance the dignity of her people.

Photographs by Carl Van Vechten are used with permission of the Van Vechten Trust; permission of the Trust is required to publish Van Vechten photographs in any format. To learn more, contact the Curator, Yale Collection of American Literature.